Rural Entrepreneurship Research Articles

Challenges and opportunities for rural entrepreneurship in times of crisis

Challenges and opportunities for rural entrepreneurship in times of crisis

Rural entrepreneurship and inequality: exploring trends in emerging economies through the lens of Lebanon

Rural entrepreneurship and inequality: exploring trends in emerging economies through the lens of Lebanon

Domesticating technology: Learning from the use of mobile phone of small women rural entrepreneurs in India during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic and the worldwide lockdowns that followed the same have led to drastic changes in our lifestyles. While the lockdowns marked a global transition to a world of online services and products, the change was neither easy nor smooth for many. From lack of access to technology to the absence of skills to use it, the act of “going digital” was littered with challenges for people across the world. In the South-Asian country of India, this lack of access was further amplified by the presence of a gender digital divide. Among the women from various factions of the society, one such category affected by it was female entrepreneurs from small rural areas in India. These entrepreneurs were cut off from their clientele owing to a nationwide lockdown in the country imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19. Most of these women had no prior experience with technology (which is mobile phones in their case) but they not only negotiated access but used it to sustain and grow their entrepreneurial endeavors in a short duration of time. This study, through in-depth qualitative interviews with female entrepreneurs from small rural areas in India maps their usage patterns and their negotiations for domesticating mobile phones. The research found that the first two stages of domestication theory (appropriation and objectification) were easier to navigate for the women entrepreneurs, but gender expectations from them made the last two stages of incorporation and conversion challenging.

How does digital inclusive finance improve rural economic resilience? Evidence from China

This study investigates the role of digital inclusive finance (DIF) in strengthening rural economic resilience in China. Analyzing data from 31 Chinese provinces over 2011–2020, it explores how DIF impacts rural economic resilience, considering factors like the market environment and rural transportation infrastructure. The research identifies the positive influence of DIF, particularly in regions with poor market environment and transportation infrastructure. It also highlights the mediating effects of increased rural entrepreneurship and the reduction of the urban–rural income gap on enhancing rural economic resilience. The findings underscore DIF's potential in promoting sustainable rural economic development.

Investigating the spatial foundations of rural entrepreneurship development using a hybrid method of MCDM, ANN and DTree algorithm

Investigating the spatial foundations of rural entrepreneurship development using a hybrid method of MCDM, ANN and DTree algorithm

Sustainability standards in rural entrepreneurships: the case of banana producers in Magdalena (Colombia)

ObjetivoO objetivo desta pesquisa é avaliar como os critérios dos Padrões de Sustentabilidade (SS) garantem a dimensão social da Sustentabilidade Corporativa (SC) em empreendimentos rurais usando o caso das agroindústrias de banana em Magdalena (Colômbia).Desenho/Metodologia/AbordagemO desenho metodológico foi quantitativo, explicativo e transversal, onde foi selecionada uma amostra de produtores de banana de Magdalena (Colômbia). Foi desenvolvido um modelo de equação estrutural (SEM) para avaliar as hipóteses. Os índices de adequação e de ajuste do SEM foram todos aceitáveis.Conclusõesexiste uma correlação forte e estatisticamente significativa entre os critérios de SS e a dimensão social da SC. Em particular, o desenvolvimento local aparece como o fator mais influente na formação da SC no contexto dos agronegócios da banana em Magdalena, Colômbia, que operam como empresas rurais. Entretanto, as condições de trabalho e os direitos humanos apresentam efeitos moderados, enquanto os direitos laborais não parecem ter um impacto percetível.Limitações da investigação/Implicaçõesapenas foram considerados os critérios de SS que garantem a dimensão social da SC nas agroindústrias da banana de Magdalena (Colômbia). É importante notar que outras variáveis podem estar envolvidas na garantia da SC. Recomenda-se a realização de investigação futura para identificar estas possíveis variáveis.OriginalidadeEsta investigação explora uma questão pouco estudada no âmbito da Sustentabilidade Empresarial (SC), focando explicitamente o empreendedorismo rural nos países em desenvolvimento, nomeadamente na Colômbia. O estudo examina o impacto dos Padrões de Sustentabilidade (SS) na dimensão social da SC em ambientes rurais, utilizando cooperativas de banana como estudo de caso e destacando o valor do desenvolvimento de estratégias para ajudar a melhorar o desempenho da SC deste tipo de organização.

Exploring the Influence of Village Social Capital and Rural Development on Farmers’ Entrepreneurial Decision-Making: Unveiling the Path to Local Entrepreneurship

This paper aims to comprehensively define village social capital, assess its multifaceted dimensions in relation to farmers’ entrepreneurial decision-making, and investigate the mediating role of rural development. The research sample consists of 14,133 farmers selected through a multi-stage proportional-to-size unequal probability sampling method. Data collection was carried out using questionnaires as part of the “Chinese Thousand Village Survey” project. Empirical analysis was conducted using binary logit and basic linear regression models, supplemented by probit models and other robustness testing methods. The findings indicate that village social capital exerts a significant and favorable influence on farmers’ entrepreneurial decision-making. Controlling for other variables, a unit increment in farmers’ village social network, village social participation, and village social trust is associated with a respective increase in farmers’ odds of entrepreneurial decision-making by 3.96, 5.42, and 16.28%. Village social trust emerges as the most influential factor. Additionally, rural harmony and rural economy partially mediate the relationship between village social capital and farmers’ entrepreneurial decision-making. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between village social capital and farmers’ entrepreneurial decision-making, offering valuable guidance for farmers looking to leverage village social capital in their entrepreneurial endeavors. It lays a theoretical foundation for relevant entities to strengthen village social capital and cultivate a supportive environment for rural entrepreneurship. To our knowledge, this paper is among the earlier studies that investigate farmers’ entrepreneurial decision-making. Besides, the relationship between village social capital and rural development is rarely studied in the literature as two determinants of farmers’ entrepreneurial decision-making.

Unlocking rural entrepreneurship access to microfinance services in Zimbabwe- the moderating role of business performance

Unlocking rural entrepreneurship access to microfinance services in Zimbabwe- the moderating role of business performance

The Digitalization Technology for Sustainable Rural Entrepreneurship: A Structured Review

Digitalization technology has emerged as a critical tool for promoting and sustaining rural entrepreneurship by providing greater access to information and new business opportunities. It can enhance the competitiveness of rural entrepreneurs by enabling them to leverage e-commerce platforms, social media, and other digital tools to access the global market. However, the uneven distribution of digital infrastructure and the lack of digital literacy in rural areas can create significant barriers to digital adoption and pose challenges to promoting sustainable rural entrepreneurship. Hence, this paper aims to structurally review related studies from 2 databases (Scopus and EconBiz) by utilizing Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). A total of 30 papers were eligible for evaluation. The findings were discussed based on three themes: the role, challenges and opportunities, and impact of digitalization technology on rural entrepreneurship. The adoption of digitalization technology among rural entrepreneurs has the potential to drive economic growth, create employment opportunities, and foster sustainable development in rural areas.

Women’s entrepreneurship education: a systematic review and future agenda

PurposeIn this systematic review of the literature on women’s entrepreneurship education, this paper aims to examine the current state of the field. The authors analyze publication trends, identify major themes and propose an agenda for future research.Design/methodology/approachThe authors review 363 articles published between 1993 and 2023, to develop a synthesized overview of women’s entrepreneurship education, complete with insights into the journals that have provided the most coverage of this topic, as well as how it has emerged over time.FindingsThe authors tracked the evolution of research themes and collaboration networks over a 30-year period. Results show there has been significant growth in research on women’s entrepreneurship education, as evidenced by a surge of publications on the topic and the total number of citations.Originality/valueThe authors categorized and analyzed six thematic clusters within the literature: entrepreneurial intention, ethical perspectives, gender-specific barriers, gender stereotypes, rural entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Building on these thematic clusters, this study discusses future research directions to advance the field.

Rural Entrepreneurship and Innovation in BRICS Economies: Secondary Evidence from Rural Areas in South Africa

It has been propagated by scholars and practitioners that entrepreneurship and innovation are potent tools that can be harnessed to transform rural areas, grow rural economies, create jobs, and enhance the prospects of attaining sustainable development goals (SDGs). Subsequently, these disciplines have garnered attention from researchers for virtually a century. Nonetheless, these researchers often focused on entrepreneurship and innovation activities in urban areas, thereby neglecting entrepreneurship and innovation activities in rural areas. Thus, there is a paucity of literature on rural entrepreneurship and innovation in the BRICS economies. Within the context of the agency theory and the Triple Helix Model of industrial policy, this study systematically reviews the literature on rural entrepreneurship and innovation in the Republic of South Africa. The study revealed that rural firms are risk-averse, which challenges the doctrine of rural transformation through rural entrepreneurship and innovation. Moreover, the ability to engage in entrepreneurship and innovation by rural firms is highly dependent on the availability of support from the government and actor networks. Subsequently, rural firms fail when support has been phased out. Thus, the government and actor networks should do things differently, with an emphasis on teaching rural firms to be independent and sustainable entrepreneurs and innovators.

Rural Entrepreneurship Education

This Special Issue focuses on entrepreneurship education in rural areas and small towns, illuminating the dynamics of entrepreneurship education in these often-neglected contexts. The articles in the Special Issue examine the development and outcomes of entrepreneurship programs and initiatives in different parts of the world and aiming at different kinds of rural students. By doing so, they also raise questions about the effectiveness of applying one-size-fits-all approaches to entrepreneurship education regardless of the context, calling for a more nuanced approach to developing entrepreneurial mindsets, competencies and skills. The findings also identify new opportunities to improve pedagogical methods for entrepreneurship education in rural contexts. Among these, future entrepreneurship education should focus more strongly on the role played by place and community, the interplay between formal and informal pedagogical approaches, and the diverse support needs of rural students of different ages and backgrounds.

Mediating Role of Pluriactivity in the Relationship Between Rural Entrepreneurship Ecosystem and Income Doubling in Nigeria's Bauchi State

ABSTRACT: The majority of rural households in emerging nations are currently diversifying their sources of income. Rural income diversification focuses primarily on improving the use of the currently available production resources and boosting household income, as opposed to investment portfolios in finance that diversify to reduce risks. Despite substantial discussion of the causes or impacts of rural income pluriactivity, there are no well-established standards for the use of indicators to record actual rural income diversification in the existing literature of the study area. Therefore, in lieu of the foregoing, attempt was made to assess the mediating role of pluriactivity in the relationship between rural entrepreneurship ecosystem and income doubling in Nigeria's Bauchi state using cross-sectional data elicited by a well-structured questionnaire coupled with interview schedule from 322 households selected via a multi-stage random sampling technique. With the aid of descriptive and inferential statistics, the study objectives were achieved. The inferential statistics encompass diversification index viz. Entropy index, Herfindahl-Hirschman index, Berry's index, and, Ginevičius index; decision regression model; and, confirmatory factor analysis. Empirically, the findings established that pluriactivity was high among most of the households and it was majorly driven by educational level. Besides, pluriactivity is established to enhance incomes of low-to-medium income levels households while it imposes a progressive declining effect on the income of households with high income level. Nevertheless, operational holding was the kick-starting impetus that derived pluriactivity of the rural economy. Furthermore, economic factor, a push effect that motivates rural entrepreneurship, has strong influence that will enhance pluriactivity capacity to double rural households' income in the long-run. Therefore, for a flourishing rural entrepreneurship that will drive sustainable growth and development of rural economy in the study area, the study suggests that households should see pluriactivity as a business entity independent of a household against the old norms that view both as just a single entity. As a rider, onus lies on policymakers to harp more on out of class education as a measure to enhance the risk bearing ability of the rural populace, thus mitigation to the posed challenges of weather-induced vagaries threatening livelihood in the study area.

The Role of Social Commerce in Empowering Rural Entrepreneurs in China: A Case Study of Taobao Villages

This paper explores the transformative impact of social commerce on rural entrepreneurship in China, with a focus on the phenomenon of Taobao Villages. These villages, characterized by their significant engagement in e-commerce activities through the Alibaba-owned platform Taobao, represent a unique integration of digital technology and rural economic development. This study examines how social commerce platforms, particularly Taobao, have facilitated rural entrepreneurship, contributed to poverty alleviation, and promoted rural revitalization in China. By employing a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative data analysis and qualitative case studies, this paper aims to provide insights into the mechanisms through which social commerce empowers rural entrepreneurs, the challenges faced, and the broader implications for rural development policy in China.

A Study on the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Pathways of College Students under the Strategy of Rural Revitalization in China

From the perspective of rural revitalization, this paper discusses the significance of college students' participation in rural innovation and entrepreneurship, the problems encountered and the solution path. College students' participation in rural innovation and entrepreneurship can provide professional knowledge and technical support for rural modernization, while bringing growth points to the rural economy and promoting the narrowing of the urban-rural gap. Problems encountered in the process of college students' innovation and entrepreneurship are analyzed, including insufficient education and backward concepts. Paths to solve the problems are put forward, including suggestions for building more college rural entrepreneurship courses, promoting urban-rural integration construction, and utilizing information technology development. The article comprehensively analyzes the significance, problems and solution paths of college students' participation in rural innovation and entrepreneurship, which provides useful reference for college students' innovation and entrepreneurship.

Analisis SWOT Potensi Desa dan BUMDes Kedarpan

SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) is a critical strategic planning tool for evaluating the potential of villages and Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) in Indonesia. BUMDes is a government initiative in empowering the economy of village communities, utilizing local resources to encourage rural entrepreneurship. This article highlights the results of a SWOT analysis of BUMDes in Kedarpan Village, showing that development prospects have not been optimal in various time periods. SWOT is used to formulate BUMDes management strategies, accelerate development, and improve performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kedarpan Village has agricultural and MSME potential which includes superior products such as white pepper and snacks made from cassava. BUMDes, such as Village Internet and chicken farms, play an important role in managing natural resources and empowering communities. This article concludes the need for BUMDes management training and further activities from the village government in building communication networks with external parties. Recommendations involve developing human resource competencies, marketing management, and collaboration with other parties to support sustainable management of Kedarpan Village and BUMDes.

Human-animal mutualism in regenerative entrepreneurship

ABSTRACT In this paper, we explore the micro-interactions through which a regenerative enterprise engages with proximate natural ecosystems in its attempt to repair and protect them. Through an ethnographic study of a regenerative farming enterprise in rural Southern Patagonia - Fundo Panguilemu - we discover a reciprocal relationship between the enterprise and animals, central to their regenerative efforts. This relationship is formed and actively maintained by the founders through three practices – joint rewilding, ambivalent relationality, and task interdependence. We leverage nature relatedness to conceptualize the relationship between these practices as human-animal mutualism in regenerative work. We advance regenerative entrepreneurship research by revealing novel human-nature interactions formed and fostered by a rural enterprise in the pursuit of local regeneration and expand our understanding of micro-level phenomena in rural entrepreneurship.

Empowering Rural Communities through Social Entrepreneurship

This case study presents an inspiring journey of Wasinah Kuntagil, an indigenous Dusun woman from Sabah. Facing financial challenges due to her husband's illness, she started producing and selling tuhau floss, a traditional culinary delight from her community. Using a social entrepreneurship model, she not only supplemented her family's income but also provided opportunities for others in her community to earn more. By employing an interview method to collect comprehensive data, this research provides a valuable chance for students to examine the decision-making process of a rural entrepreneur and evaluate the positive effects of her management style on the economy and social well-being of the women in her community.
 Keywords: agricultural economics, commercialisation, indigenous women, microeconomics, social entrepreneurship

A Study on Financial Performance of SFURTI -Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries

Khadi Village Industries Commissions (KVIC) is a prominent scheme formed under MSME which promotes the growth of the rural economy but is not able to reach out to the targeted people. Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) is a scheme under KVIC which aims at bridging the gap between rich and poor by way of development of rural entrepreneurs, this scheme was launched during the 11th Five Year Plan to encourage rural entrepreneurship. It was revised during the 12th Five Year Plan which eliminated the limitation of the existing scheme. The study highlights the brief history and types of schemes offered by KVIC and also the physical performance of SFURTI has been analysed. The study is carried out using descriptive and exploratory research methodology to find out the outcomes of the study. The research has enabled to assess the employment generation, production, and sales under Khadi and village industries and the financial performance of SFRUTI

Exploring the dynamics of innovation: patterns of growth and contraction in the local food industry

PurposeThe purpose of this study is shed light on the underlying forces behind entrepreneurship within a regional innovation system (RIS) in a remote rural region. The authors examine the following questions: Which are the main underlying forces behind the entrepreneurial process in a rural RIS characterized by traditionally low-tech, small-scale businesses? How can the development of a low-tech regional innovation system be conceptualized?Design/methodology/approachThe design of the study is based on entrepreneurship theory. Data analysis followed practices used in phenomenography, a research approach used to analyse and identify commonalities and variations in populations' perceptions of a certain phenomenon. Data are composed using semi-structured interviews and a database composed of company information of all firms in the population.FindingsA proactive mobilization of regional stakeholders and resources can be an important driving force behind the entrepreneurial process and generation of a rural RIS. Innovation can be generated within low-tech industries turning the rural context into an asset. An RIS in a remote rural context can be initiated and orchestrated by regional authorities, but knowledge brokering and orchestration can also be managed by networks of small-scale businesses brought together by mutual benefit and common interests.Research limitations/implicationsRegional innovation systems theory is most often used to study high-tech industries. But by combining regional innovation systems with rural entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship context theory is a fruitful avenue to understand the role of rural entrepreneurship in regional development, even in remote and peripheral regions. Innovation does not need to entail high-tech international environments; it can appear as the result of efforts in low-tech industries in rural and remote environments. The authors’ findings need to be scrutinized; therefore, the authors call for more research on regional innovation systems in rural environments.Practical implicationsIt is possible for regional authorities to orchestrate a development process through the actions of a strong regional agent but also by supporting the creation of networks of small businesses that are built on trust and common interests.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature with a new perspective to the study of entrepreneurship and of regional innovation systems. Entrepreneurship research with focus on rural contexts most often highlight limits to entrepreneurship and see entrepreneurship as “just running a business”. A perspective that starts from innovation and innovative behaviour, despite the rural context and embedded resources, helps to generate new knowledge that can enrich the understanding of entrepreneurship and also be the foundation for more precise business development policies in rural settings.